The Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert trade is aging better by the day

Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves Apr 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and owner Alex Rodriguez celebrate after the win of game four of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves Apr 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and owner Alex Rodriguez celebrate after the win of game four of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
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Minnesota Timberwolves News Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley, Minnesota Timberwolves Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

5. Patrick Beverley

Patrick Beverley may have the craziest resume of them all since departing the Minnesota Timberwolves. After being sent to the Jazz, Beverley was the first of the former Timberwolves to join the Lakers when he was traded to LA last August.

At the trade deadline in February, Pat Bev was traded from the Lakers to the Magic in a four-team deal, where he eventually reached a buyout agreement before ever suiting up for Orlando. A week later, he opted to play for his hometown team and signed with the Chicago Bulls.

A little over a week ago, he signed a one-year, $3.1 million deal with the 76ers for the 2023-24 season. For those keeping track at home, that will make six teams for Patrick Beverley in a little over one calendar year.

After Pat Bev’s long basketball journey that eventually led him to the NBA and his excellent one-year stint with the Timberwolves, it is easy to see why he is still so beloved in Minnesota. He has worked harder than most to get to where he is, and he also took great pride in suiting up for the Wolves.

But at the end of the day, there is simply not an incredibly high demand for Patrick Beverley right now. Sure, most of us would welcome him back to Minnesota, but he would be taking minutes away from those who are primed to blossom in bigger roles like Jaden McDaniels. Moving on from him was ultimately the right choice.

As we look at these five players the Timberwolves traded for Rudy Gobert, it becomes increasingly obvious that none of them are missed enough for it to matter. Dunking on the five-pick, five-player trade is easy on a surface level, but digging deeper reveals that it was really not so lopsided in hindsight.